It was another sign of improving ties between the two countries after they announced they had normalized relations in March after years of animosity following an assassination attempt in 1995 on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Ethiopian capital, which was blamed on Sudan.

Sayyed was quoted by the official SUNA news agency as saying that Khartoum and Addis Ababa are "now considering rescinding entry visas" required by a citizen of either country to travel to the other.

He added that Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had said his government intends making an agreement with Sudan to lift customs duties and to import Sudanese petroleum and butane gas.

The ambassador said Meles and President Omar al-Beshir met on the sidelines of a recent east African summit when they agreed to cement bilateral relations -- KHARTOUM (AFP)